Chapter Forty-Nine: Future Mrs.Gill

The next day had arrived when the three of them were supposed to leave. The entire previous day, she had clung to her boyfriend and family. Her mind wasn't working properly; instead of thinking about the next day, she simply enjoyed the time she had with her loved ones before they had to go back home. Shubman had already given her the tickets the day before, leaving the decision of what to do with them up to her. That night, she was practically glued to her boyfriend like a bear in bed. She felt like she might be annoying him, but he didn't mind at all because this was exactly what he had happily signed up for, for the rest of his life.

Fast forward to the present moment, she stood before her family, looking down and wiping her tears. Evelyn and the twins had returned the night before, which would make the house feel a bit less lonely. However, nothing could match the feeling of being with the people who meant the most to her. Even though Evelyn and the twins were there during her loneliest night, it wasn't the same as being with the family standing before her now—the saviours in her life, without whom she wouldn't be here.

Virat pulled his baby sister into his arms as she started to sob at his touch, not wanting to let go, just like on her first day of school when she clung to him, not wanting to leave his side.

Patting her head, Virat calmed her down. "The doors of our hearts are always open. You can come back whenever you want, baccha," he said, kissing her forehead.

She continued to hold the hem of his jacket, a habit she had developed because of her short height. It made her feel grounded, especially during emotional moments like this.

"Remember when I used to hold onto your shirt like this?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Virat smiled, his eyes filled with warmth. "Of course, I do. You'd grip it so tightly, I thought you'd never let go."

She laughed softly through her tears. "I always felt safe with you."

"And you always will be," Virat replied, gently brushing a tear from her cheek. "No matter where you go or what you do, you'll always have us."

Jutting out her lower lip, she cried, "Do you really have to go? Can't you stay longer?"

Cupping her face, he bit his lip, his eyes reflecting her sadness. "Nation calls, nini. I have to go and play my part."

Her heart sank at his words, knowing the weight of his responsibilities. "But can't the nation wait just a little longer?"

Virat shook his head sadly. "I wish it could, but duty calls. But I promise, I'll be back before you know it."

She leaned into his touch, finding solace in his embrace. "I'll miss you every moment you're away."

Virat gently wiped away her tears, his voice filled with reassurance. "And I'll carry you in my heart wherever I go. You're my strength, remember that."

With a heavy heart, she nodded, trying to memorize every detail of his face before he had to leave. As he pulled away, she whispered, "Stay safe out there."

He smiled, a mixture of love and determination in his eyes. "Always."

Vamika and Anushka kissed her cheeks, reassuring her that they were okay with the decision not to come with them. However, despite their brave faces, Vamika was silently hiding her tears. She picked up her six-year-old niece and pressed her nose against hers, whispering, "Nini promises to be back soon."

Her niece wrapped her tiny arms around her neck, her eyes wide with innocence and trust. "You promise?"

Nehmat nodded, her voice choked with emotion. "I promise, sweetheart. Nini will be back before you know it."

Anushka, witnessing the tender moment, stepped forward and enveloped them both in a warm embrace. "We'll be counting down the days until you return."

Nehmat squeezed her niece tightly, trying to memorize every detail of her sweet face. "I'll miss you so much, my little sunshine."

Vamika planted a kiss on Nehmat's cheek, her small gesture of affection filling Nehmat's heart with warmth. "I'll miss you too, Nini. But don't worry, I'll be waiting for you back at home."

As they prepared to depart, Nehmat took one last look at her family, etching the image of their tear-streaked faces into her memory.

She kept her head down and turned around, unable to watch them leave, and started sobbing as she heard their footsteps moving away. Her tears flowed even harder when a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. She leaned back into his touch, recognizing it even with her eyes closed. It was the love of her life, the man who had been her beacon of light in the darkest of times. Though he had left her and their relationship might have changed, she couldn't deny that the man before her still had the power to make her fall in love all over again.

He held her waist tightly, pulled her closer, and turned her around, lifting her chin to kiss her passionately. She could taste the salty tears mingling with their kiss, a reminder of the challenges they had faced and the cracks in their relationship that needed to be filled with sweet memories.

As they parted, he wiped her tears with the sleeves of his shirt, only to have them replaced by fresh ones. "I will make sure to be back in your arms as soon as I get time," he promised.

Nehmat hugged him tight, burying her face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry I'm not coming with you guys."

Running his fingers through her hair, he muttered, "No need to be. Some things need to come from the heart, and I am ready to wait for you every day for the rest of my life."

Feeling a lump form in her throat, Nehmat held onto him even tighter, not wanting to let go. "I don't know what I'd do without you," she whispered, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

He held her close, his embrace offering solace and reassurance. "You'll never have to find out. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Nehmat nodded, taking comfort in his words. "I love you," she said softly, her voice filled with emotion.

"I love you too," he replied, his voice just as tender. "And I'll be counting down the minutes until I can hold you in my arms again."

Standing on her tiptoes, she pulled him into a long kiss—a kiss of promise that no matter what, she belonged to him and every beat of her heart would have his name attached to it. Eyes closed, she breathed heavily as his fingers stroked her cheeks and his lips kissed her forehead, indicating he was leaving. "The seat next to me is waiting," he said softly before walking away, his words a final call for her to join him.

She couldn't bring herself to open her eyes; she couldn't bear to watch him go once again, alone. It wasn't until she heard the engine go off in the quiet atmosphere of Switzerland that she finally opened her eyes. Evelyn and the twins were walking back, signalling the end of three days of happiness. Her legs gave way as she sat down, burying her face in her hands. The ticket in her pocket seemed to have a heart of its own, beating loudly with every passing moment.

After what felt like half an hour, she looked up with determination, ready to call Evelyn to get the car ready. But to her surprise, she saw the twins and Evelyn already sitting inside the car, waiting for her.

The twins popped their heads out of the back seat window, teasing, "Took you long enough! Now come inside."

Dusting off her clothes and wiping her tears, she nodded and tightened her seatbelt. "Let's go."

The twins dramatically exclaimed, "Thank goodness you said, or else we were going to ask with the amount of time you took." Evelyn chuckled at her little wonders and revved the car, racing through the streets of Switzerland. The other three passengers held onto their seats for dear life as Evelyn felt her teenage adrenaline returning with the thrill of the situation. The wind whipped through their hair as they sped along.

The two-hour drive ended up taking just one hour, and as they arrived, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief, grateful that everyone was in one piece. Evelyn smiled sheepishly as she looked at them. "Sorry, darlings, got a bit carried away after so long, may have gone a bit out of the way."

Before Nehmat could scold her, Evelyn handed her passport, kissing her cheeks. "You're getting late, go."

Nehmat narrowed her eyes at her friend before turning to the twins. "Be good, kids, and make sure your mom doesn't get the car keys too often." She kissed their giggling faces and Evelyn's cheeks before rushing into the airport.

With a wave goodbye, she disappeared into the bustling crowds. Her eyes widened as she saw the check-in almost closing. Sliding her way through the check-in line, she slammed the ticket on the desk, making the person behind it look at her with a mixture of surprise and confusion. Nonetheless, they processed her ticket and gave her the boarding pass, considering her as a late and slightly clumsy passenger.

With a quick thank you, she grabbed her boarding pass and rushed towards the security checkpoint, her heart pounding with adrenaline. As she made her way through the airport, she couldn't shake off the feeling of relief mixed with a hint of embarrassment at her last-minute dash. But despite the rush, she couldn't wait to finally board the plane and begin the next chapter of her journey.

Shubman sat by the window, his gaze fixed outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of Nehmat. But there were no signs of her, and his lips turned into a pout, his brows furrowing in disappointment. Closing his eyes, he felt a bit defeated, wishing for her tiny hands to find their way into his large one to calm his nerves, as they often did.

As the flight started to taxi down the runway, he realized that he was leaving Nehmat behind once again, though not abandoning her, but with a promise to come back. As the plane soared into the sky, he felt a soft touch on his hand. Opening his eyes, he looked up to find a pair of brown eyes looking back at him. "Let's withstand this sandcastle now with the power of trust and time," she murmured, her voice carrying a hint of determination.

He smiled back, his dimples on display, as he intertwined his fingers with hers and kissed her hand. "As you say, Future Mrs. Gill."